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What is TMJ?

If you have problems with pain in your jaw, do you ever think about going to the dentist to get it treated? Most people don’t, which is understandable. After all, a dentist just fixes teeth, right?

Well, not exactly. Dentists like Dr. Carl McMillan at TMJ Therapy in American Fork, Utah can help with jaw problems, especially a common one involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ for short). This is the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. But how do you know when your jaw problems are ones that can be treated by a dentist? That’s why we put this piece together – to help you identify what TMJ disorder is.

What is it?TMJ disorder is when there’s been direct injury or harm to the TMJ. This is different from other jaw issues, because TMJ disorder creates localized, specific pain.

SymptomsTMJ disorder has specific signs and symptoms that help you differentiate it from other problems that might require you to see a doctor. Some of the symptoms include pain in the jaw joint (TMJ), clicking and popping in the jaw, ear pain and headaches, popping noises in your ears, stiff jaw muscles, or locking of the jaw joint.

None of these symptoms should be overlooked, and they’re all issues that Dr. Carl McMillan can help treat.

TreatmentIf you have any of the above symptoms, you’d be smart to seek treatment from a trained dentist. That treatment can include dental splints and mouthguards. In fact, a mouthguard is one of the more popular treatments since a lot of TMJ disorder problems are caused by grinding teeth in your sleep.

Don’t let any of these symptoms go untreated. To schedule an appointment, or to get more information, call us today at 801-756-0900.